The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-14

cuue. one was sowing, ana ner llGIle
daughter was playing about on the grass.
| The day was calm and sultry, with bright
sun and cloudless sky. Every thing about
her was full of peace, and her troubled mind
was feeling the influence of its surround
ings.
She had been seated for some time: her
little daughter was sporting out of her
view, beyond the bushes which shaded the
seat when Gertrude heard voice 1t was
woman's and evidently was speaking to
the child.
Here's the butterfly" it said ''Open
your little hand Yes, that's it. Now!n
Sta, ta,'' said the child.
But look you have dirtied your frockl
Won't your mother beat you!"
NO" replied the child, astonished.
Doesn't she ever beat you?"
"No; mamma loves me-"
"Ah, but some mothers who love their
children beat them. l had child once
just like you, and beat her!"
''You were cruel" said little Gertrude.
"Crueln' replied the woman with sigh
"Ah, my dear, you don't know how truth
fully you are speaking. Cruel My God ;
my Godr'
| There was moments silence
when | last saw her." the woman re-
sumed, "she was just about your age, and
so like you. What's your name, dear?''
''Gerty" replied the child, in her pert
fashion.
"Gerty' repeated the woman
eyes, Gerry Thresherl' said the child,
| proud of being able to give her full Chris
| tian name
"Gerty Thresher! Gerty Thresher!n re-
peated the woman, in such a husky, half
suffocated voice that Mrs Birdy arose in
alarm to see what was the matter.
The moment Mrs. Birdy's eyes fell upon
the woman's face she started back in hor-
ror and fear. The woman returned her
gaze of establishment For moment the
two stood staring in silence at each other,
Then the woman, with wild scream.
| raised her arms above her head and fell
| back in commissions. Mrs Birdy in an in
slant snatched up her daughter and ran ter
ritied away. The face of the woman who
had been talking to her child was the evil
face of her dreamsl
She had run about a hundred wards
before her horror gave her time to
think. Then she paused moment to re-
fiect. The woman she had left behind her
was lying in convulsive fit. If no help
were given she might die where she lay.
Was 1t right to leave her in this way be-
cause OF some resemblance the unfortunate
woman bore to face she saw in her dreams?
Gertrude felt that she was behaving in a
cowardly fashion. She would not leave the
poor creature. She would return
1t took great effort for her to force her
self back, but she made it. She found the
woman lying stretched on the grass, per-
fectly unconscious. Her face now at rest,
bore less resemblance to Gertrude's dream
face than before. 1t was more haggard,
aged and worn, and much less ferocious
and cruel. In fact as she saw it now, the
resemblance was scarcely noticeable
Gertrude brought some water from a lit
tie stream which ran close by and dashed
1t in the unconscious woman's face The
woman made no motion. Further attempts
proving equally unsuccessful, Gertrude,
afraid that it might be something worse
than mere fainting fit, hurried away for
help. The first person she met was the
gardener. Returning with him, she directed
MIN to carry the unconscious woman to the
Grange. That done, she sent for the DOCTOR
When Dr. Oldport arrived he made a
rapid examination of the patient.
"Well, Doctor" inquired Mrs. Birdy,
anxiously, sis she very illl''
''No, no; not at ALL replied Dr. Oldport
- AAASfS ANttiUih5 1IOs plOuuCGu partly ny ex-
haustion and partly by shock. You see by
her appearance that she's very poor, and
she has evidently been walking much lately
and resting very little. What she needs is
some rest and care"
"I'll see to that" said Mrs. Birdy
"Really my dear Mrs. Birdy," remon-
strated the doctor, ''you are too kind. Your
duty would be done if you sent her to the in
Urinary. She is evidently only tramp, or
something of that kind. looking for work.
Poor creature!" said Gertrude, plying
ly, but at the same time hesitatingly. For,
strongly as she felt for the worn out woman
she disliked the notion Of harboring under
her own roof person who bore so much
resemblance to the evil faces Of her dreams.
Eyes," murmured the doctor, ''she has
had a hard life of it. Look at the scars on
her face"
Eyes, indeed" exclaimed Mrs. Birdy;
''what caused these, Doctors"
"Blows," replied DR.. Oldport, cor kicks.
Some sort of rough usage, at any rate. Has
had brutal husband, l should say. Well,
Mrs. Birdy, will you send her to the in
frmary?"
80, no, doctor, 1 can not ~ cried Gertrude,
whose reluctance to receive the stranger
had been dissipated by this last revelation
Poor creature, must see her quite herself
before | let her 60"
Every well, Mrs. Birdy; as you like. Let
her be put to bed them" and Dr. Oldrort
proceeded to give his directions as to the
treatment of the woman
The woman long remained unconscious,
and Gertrude was unremittng in her atten-
ton to her. On the Squire returning home
he was surprised to hear Of the new inmate
of his house, and he went to the bedroom to
see her She was still unconscious. Ger
trude told him of the strange resemblance
she bore to the face she dreamed about, and
when, later on, Gertrude, searching for
something or other, went into her hus-
bands study, she found him sitting alone |
there, lost in what appeared to be a dis
agreeable reverie.
The so-called fainting fit turned out to be |
much more serious affair than Dr. Oldport |
anticipated. On calling the day after the |
woman's arrival Mrs. Birdy noticed that |
after his examination of her his looks be-
came very grave. Mrs Birdy asked him if |
he thought that there was any danger, and, |
although he said that he did not think there
was, it seemed to Gertrude that his tone
hardly responded to his word He added |
that he would call again early the following
dav